Our Food Philosophy

The food at Ballyvolane is ‘country house’ in terms of style and is meticulously prepared by house chef Teena Mahon. The menus feature lots of good roasts, fresh and salt-water fish and game in season, supported by home-grown vegetables and fruit.

Locally Sourced Slow Food

We only use ingredients from here. This means from Ballyvolane’s walled garden, farm, river and from the local area. We rear our own rare-breed pigs (Saddlebacks, Gloucester Old Spots & Durocs). We are lucky being situated in County Cork as there is an abundance of fantastic artisan food producers close by. Our beef, lamb and mutton come from Michael McGrath in Lismore, fish and shellfish from O’Connell’s Seafood in the English Market, Cork and from Ballycotton Seafood in Midleton, our bacon, sausages, black and white puddings and loins of bacon come from Caherbeg Pork Ltd in Rosscarbery and artisan cheeses from all over Cork, Waterford and Tipperary.

Walled Garden Fruit & Veg

Justin’s father Jeremy grows a huge amount of vegetables throughout the year in Ballyvolane’s vast walled garden. Exotic vegetables such as sea kale, asparagus and globe artichokes as well as lots of different varieties of salad leaves, 4 kinds of potatoes, chard, spinach, courgettes, all sorts of cabbages, curly kale, beetroot, Jerusalem artichokes and much more besides. Fruit such as loganberries, figs, pears, apples and raspberries are served up in season and the green house is used for growing cucumbers, chilies and tomatoes.

Freshly laid eggs...

We are keen foragers so a lot of the food is wild. Wild garlic, wood sorrel, common sorrel, rock samphire are often on the menu in season. Wild Atlantic salmon caught on our beats on the river Blackwater as well as feathered and furred game appear on the menu in season. We have 30 happy hens that scratch around a large walled haggard (shared with the piggies) and they produce wonderful eggs for breakfast and baking. Muscovy ducks keep the hens company and are on the menu from time to time.

Freshly baked Breads!

We make all our own jams and marmalade for breakfast, we bake our own breads, pastries and cakes. We use local Glenilen Farm traditional country butter. All our guests enjoy complimentary homemade elderflower cordial, homemade Ribena and a jar of homemade chocolate in the bedrooms.

The menus change daily and vary with seasonal, weather and fishing conditions. We are very happy to accommodate any special dietary requirements. High tea and special children’s menus are also available for little people.

Dinner

Informal and relaxed, the offering each night is a 4-course set menu. Needless to say, we cater for all special dietary requirements. Communal dining or separate – dinner is generally taken 'house-party style' with the other guests around the main dining table. There are a couple of separate tables in the dining room should you wish to dine away from the main group. In any event, dinner at Ballyvolane is an integral part of the Ballyvolane experience and a ritual not to be missed.

Breakfast

Breakfast may be taken in the dining room anytime before 12 noon – 'The Full Monty' or continental.

Picnic Lunch

Picnics can taken with you on day trips or can be eaten in the house or on the grounds. We do not offer a sit-down lunch option at Ballyvolane.

Afternoon Tea

Enjoy our selection of loose leaf tea, herbal infusions, homemade cakes, chocolate brownies which can be enjoyed in the hall, drawing room, in your room or, weather permitting, out in the garden.